Ex-coach at Delco Christian School accused of having sex with student (Video)

NEWTOWN – A 27-year-old former softball coach for Delaware County Christian School has been charged with felony sexual assault for allegedly having a two-year sexual relationship with one of her players.

Lana Trotter, of the Summit House Condominiums in West Chester, is free on 10 percent of $50,000 bail after being arraigned this morning in Newtown District Court.

Trotter, who is no longer the softball coach for Delco Christian, said little during the brief proceeding before Magisterial District Judge Leon Hunter. Her attorney, Scott Godshall, said he had not seen the criminal complaint and declined to comment on the charges.

A letter posted on the school’s website Thursday afternoon, said the school had been made aware of the charges against the former part-time employee and was cooperating with authorities. Head of School Timothy P. Wiens also noted that an internal investigation had been launched.

An arrest warrant was issued for Trotter on Wednesday after the alleged victim told authorities she and Trotter had been involved in a sexual relationship that began in 2011, when she was 16-years-old, court documents indicate.

The parents of the alleged victim contacted police in July after discovering a cell phone, hidden in their daughter’s bedroom, that contained inappropriate text messages between Trotter and the girl, according to the affidavit of probable cause written by Newtown Detective John Newell.

When the parents confronted their daughter, she allegedly told them she and Trotter had been sexually active for a “few years” during the time she was a student at DCCS, the affidavit states.

According to the charging document, the alleged victim met Trotter in the spring of 2011, when the accused was employed as a softball coach for DCCS. That summer, she and Trotter became friends. The two spent time together after school and softball games, and talked and texted on the phone, according to the criminal complaint.

When the teenage girl lost her cellphone privileges, Trotter, unbeknownst to the parents, allegedly purchased an IPhone for the 16-year-old so they could continue to talk and text after school hours.

The relationship between the coach and the softball player became more serious that fall, authorities allege. The two saw each other often, and at one point, Trotter professed her love for the softball player, the affidavit states.

The relationship between the coach and the high school student became sexual in January 2012, authorities allege.

Late one Friday night, Trotter was with the alleged victim at her home in Newtown Square. As they sat on the couch, Trotter allegedly told the teenager that she loved her and the two began to “make out,” the affidavit states. The girl allegedly told police she was confused by Trotter’s actions and asked her to leave.

After the incident, both Trotter and the girl agreed it “wasn’t really right,” but the two continued their friendship, hanging out both during and after school, authorities allege.

During an interview with detectives, the teenage girl allegedly said that she and Trotter continued to “kiss and feel each other up,” both at the girl’s home and in Trotter’s vehicle. She told authorities that one numerous occasions she told her coach that the she didn’t feel right about the sexual aspect of their relationships, but feared losing Trotter’s friendship if she continued to “say no.”

During the spring and summer of 2012, the sexual relationship between the coach and the player went further. The two would allegedly have sex on the ride home from school or practice or at Trotter’s Westtown Township home. The teenager estimated that they were intimate between 20 and 25 times, the affidavit states.

At one point, the alleged victim attempted to end the sexual relationship with Trotter, telling her coach it made her very uncomfortable. Both she and Trotter agreed to end the sexual relationship, according to the charging document.

Several months later however, in early 2013, Trotter had a bad breakup with her boyfriend and became depressed, according to the affidavit. The alleged victim told investigators she felt bad for Trotter and their sexual relationship started up again, the charging document indicates. The alleged victim, now 18, told authorities that the relationship ended at the conclusion of softball season.

Officials confirmed that Trotter is no longer employed at the private school on Malin Road.

In his letter, Wiens stressed that the school does not tolerate behavior that violate the law or school policy. He asked the school community to “pray that God will protect everyone involved,” and noted that the school will continue to adhere to privacy laws “which prohibit discussing the situation in detail.”

Trotter is charged with two counts each of institutional sexual assault and corruptions of minors.

Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 19 in Newtown District Court.